Updates from the Building Performance Team

New learning modules available to help you understand the Building Code A series of online learning modules has been developed by The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to help people understand the basics of the Building Code.

The modules are broken into sections focusing on The Building Code, Building Performance Requirements and Building Consent Compliance. They are between one and three minutes long, easy to use and come complete with an assessment at the end (they are short videos to watch, so you may need headphones). by the Government The new exemptions will save building owners time and money, by not having to go to their local council for consent for common, low-risk building work. This reduction in building consents will also allow Councils to focus on building work that is higher-risk, helping to boost productivity. They’re a great resource for any one new to the industry or as a refresher for those who are more experienced.

To access the modules, visit www.building.govt.nz, press ‘Start learning’ and either log in as a guest or

New building consent exemptions have been approved New building consent exemptions are being added to the Building Act. Building consents will no longer be needed for a number of new or expanded types of low-risk building work, like sleep-outs, sheds, carports, outdoor fireplaces and ground-mounted solar panels.

register for an account. This package of new exemptions adds to the work that can already be done without a building consent, outlined in Schedule 1 of the Building Act. Some of the new exempt building work can be done without the help of a professional, while others require the involvement of a Chartered Professional Engineer or Licensed Building Practitioner.

Building law reform update

The Building (Building Products and Methods, Modular Components, and Other Matters) Amendment Bill is now before Parliament. The Bill is with the Environment Committee for A strengthened LBP scheme consideration and consultation. The select committee is due to report back to Parliament on 27 November 2020. Follow the Bill’s progression on the Parliamentary website at https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/bills-and-laws/billswill aim to ensure that builders have the right skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours to proposed-laws/document/BILL_97710/tab/digest do quality building work. The changes in the Bill will allow the sector to shift to new, more effective ways of working, help support productivity • widen the scope of the building levy; and improvements, lift the efficiency and quality of building work and improve trust and confidence in the building regulatory system. • create new offences and penalties, and increase existing penalties, for offences against the Building Act. The Bill forms part of a wider law reform programme to lift The next phase of the building reform programme is performance of the regulatory system and drive better focused on occupational regulation, and will look at ways to outcomes for the sector and for New Zealanders. strengthen the LBP scheme and the regulation of engineers. Key changes in the Bill will: A strengthened LBP scheme will aim to ensure that • introduce minimum information requirements about builders have the right skills, knowledge, experience and building products to support better and more efficient behaviours to do quality building work, and increase decision-making; accountability when LBPs do not meet the standards • introduce a specialist framework for modern methods expected of them. of construction such as offsite manufacturing and Strengthening the regulation of engineers will aim to prefabrication and speed up the consenting process; ensure that engineers provide engineering services with • strengthen the product certification framework (CodeMark) to improve trust and confidence in the scheme; reasonable care and skill, operate within their areas and level of competence, are held to account for substandard work or poor conduct and people have confidence in the engineering profession.

Learn more about the Bill on the Building System Performance website at https://www.building.govt.nz/ getting-started/building-law-reforms/

Under the Licensed Building Practitioners (LBP) scheme, more building work can be done without requiring a building consent such as:

Single-storey detached buildings (e.g. sleep outs, sheds and greenhouses) with a maximum floor area of 30 square metres. Kitchen and bathroom facilities are not included in this exemption. Carports with a maximum floor area of 40 square metres Ground floor awnings up to 30 square metres Ground floor verandas and porches up to 30 square metres Single-storey pole sheds and hay barns in rural zones with a maximum floor area of 110 square metres

Find out more about the becoming an LBP by visiting www.lbp.govt.nz/become-an-lbp/ The new exemptions are expected to commence at the end of August. We will be providing more educational content about these new exemptions in August. For more information and a full summary of the new building consent exemptions, visit www.building.govt.nz

Editors Note: MBIE are consulting on the Technical Guidance around this change.

MBIE is the over-arching regulator of New Zealand’s building system. Our Building System Performance (BSP) branch provides policy and technical advice on New Zealand’s building system, rules and standards, and implements building legislation and regulations to meet New Zealand’s current and future needs.